{"id":451,"date":"2006-02-26T22:22:16","date_gmt":"2006-02-26T22:22:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/salguod.net\/blog\/2006\/02\/ive_succomed.shtml"},"modified":"2021-05-29T02:46:47","modified_gmt":"2021-05-29T02:46:47","slug":"ive_succomed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/salguod.net\/blog\/2006\/02\/ive_succomed.shtml","title":{"rendered":"I’ve Succumbed"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Despite all the good, sound financial advice to the contrary, I bought a new car. I admit that this was at least 90% emotional and maybe 10% practical, but I now have a new 2005 Mazda3 5 Door. I was able to get the finances arranged so that we still have only one payment, it’s about the same as the van payment was and we’ll be done paying about the same time as if I had waited until the van was paid off. It’s a load of fun to drive, easy on the eyes, quick, taught and did I mention a hoot to drive? This car is everything the old Escort (sheepishly hiding behind the newcomer) was not. Hopefully this one will also be quite a few things the Escort was – pretty frugal, reliable and dependable. Being a 2005 meant a little more room to negotiate the price, but having a friend working in the marketing department of the dealer didn’t hurt either. In fact, he did all the bargaining for me, playing hard nose with his own co-workers on my behalf!
\nIt’s got only two options, a CD changer and the ‘Appearance Package I’ which includes those add on things at the bottom corners of each bumper (look again, they’re there). I didn’t care about either, what I did care about was it being a stick shift. This was the last 2005 stick 5 door in the state (I looked). The 5 door Mazda3 only comes in the high end S trim, so it comes with a bunch of stuff anyway, power windows and locks, keyless entry, steering wheel controls, AC, a CD radio, etc. Plenty of goodies.
\nThe most important stuff, thought, is the bigger 2.3 liter 4 cylinder engine putting out 160 HP and the independent suspension and the 17″ wheels and tires. They add up to go-cart like responses and a fun snarl when driven hard. I’ve been longing for a car like this ever since I traded my fun loving, but junk, Nissan Pulsar NX on that Escort. I feel as though I’ve done my time in the economy car, now it’s time for some fun.
\nI’m not a new car kind of guy, in fact this is my first new car. I subscribe to the “let some other guy take the depreciation hit” theory. But these Mazdas hold their value very well, so that’s not as big an issue with this car as it would be with others. It being new will also give us some more breathing room when it’s paid off to stretch our van a few more years if we want.
\nIt was a good weekend..
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Rather than replying in the comments there, I thought I'd write a little 'review'. First things first, I absolutely love the car. It's a joy to look at, inside and out, and to drive. I've\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Cars and Driving"","block_context":{"text":"Cars and Driving","link":"https:\/\/salguod.net\/blog\/cars-and-driving"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":173,"url":"https:\/\/salguod.net\/blog\/2004\/07\/a_new_car.shtml","url_meta":{"origin":451,"position":1},"title":"A New Car!","author":"Doug Schaefer","date":"July 21, 2004","format":false,"excerpt":"I got a new car! OK, I really didn't, but based on the short test drive of my old one it feels a little like it. I spent the weekend putting 4 new struts, rear springs, rear strut mount plates, spark plugs and plug wires on the old Escort (1993,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Cars and Driving"","block_context":{"text":"Cars and Driving","link":"https:\/\/salguod.net\/blog\/cars-and-driving"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":537,"url":"https:\/\/salguod.net\/blog\/2006\/08\/observed.shtml","url_meta":{"origin":451,"position":2},"title":"Observed","author":"Doug Schaefer","date":"August 8, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"As a car guy, I get a lot of folks coming to me for car advice. I like being asked and I give out advice. This past weekend, however, it was pointed out how ironic it was that I seem to have cars with issues. I got to thinking about\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Cars and Driving"","block_context":{"text":"Cars and Driving","link":"https:\/\/salguod.net\/blog\/cars-and-driving"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":450,"url":"https:\/\/salguod.net\/blog\/2006\/02\/let_down_by_a_f.shtml","url_meta":{"origin":451,"position":3},"title":"Let Down By a Faithful Old Friend","author":"Doug Schaefer","date":"February 22, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"As I've written before, my old Escort has been a very faithful, if boring, friend for over 10 years. She's served me well, doing her job with few complaints. Nearing the end of her life, she just keeps on going, like a big, rusty, 2,500 pound Energizer Bunny. 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As an old car\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Cars and Driving"","block_context":{"text":"Cars and Driving","link":"https:\/\/salguod.net\/blog\/cars-and-driving"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":232,"url":"https:\/\/salguod.net\/blog\/2004\/12\/lenos_toronado.shtml","url_meta":{"origin":451,"position":5},"title":"Leno’s Toronado","author":"Doug Schaefer","date":"December 3, 2004","format":false,"excerpt":"Check this car out. It's Jay Leno's Custom 1966 Olds Toronado. I have a soft spot in my heart for 60's American cars and Oldmobiles in general (I learned to drive on Dad's 1977 Cutlass), but I've always loved the early Toronados. Lots of style, room and power. 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